Last updated on July 11, 2025:

The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2025:

50

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Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left in hot cars or outside during hot weather. In 2024 alone, 111 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 388 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.


Year	Deaths	Deaths	Rescues	Rescues
2025	50	See the list.	175	See the list.
2024	111	See the list.	388	See the list.
2023	163	See the list.	855	See the list.
2022	58	See the list.	490	See the list.
2021	60	See the list.	145	See the list.
2020	32	See the list.	50	See the list.
2019	53	See the list.	125	See the list.
2018	60	See the list.	93	See the list.

How to Keep Your Animal Companion Safe in Hot Weather

The following list is a compilation of heat-related deaths of companion animals reported in 2025:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died	Notes
7/6/2025	Park Forest, Illinois	1	A dog died from heatstroke after he was left on a balcony because the air conditioning unit inside the apartment had failed.
7/4/2025	Carrollton, Ohio	1	A dog died from heat stroke inside a vehicle, even though the vehicle was running and the air conditioning was on, due to the extreme heat.
6/29/2025	Santa Nella, California	28	One hundred and six cats were rescued from a U-Haul van in a parking lot where they had no food or water. Twenty-eight other cats were found dead.
6/29/2025	Bensalem, Pennsylvania	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car while the owner was at a casino.
6/20/2025	Arizona	7	The Arizona Humane Society reported that seven dogs have died in recent weeks due to heat-related causes.
6/13/2025	Queen Creek, Arizona	2	Two dogs died after being left in a hot car for at least six hours.
6/7/2025	Forsyth County, North Carolina	2	Three dogs were left in a hot vehicle overnight. Two of them died, and one survived.
6/2/2025	Morrisville, North Carolina	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car while his owner was at work.
5/31/2025	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A dog died after being left in a crate outside in extreme heat.
5/28/2025	Bangor, Maine	1	Maine’s first official comfort dog died in a hot state vehicle.
5/22/2025	Houston, Texas	1	A dog died after being left on a patio in the heat with no access to water, food, or shade.
5/16/2025	Manassas, Viginia	1	A dog died after being left inside a car parked outside a mall.
5/15/2025	Jonesboro, Georgia	1	A dog is believed to have died of heatstroke at a grooming facility.
5/15/2025	West Palm Beach, Florida	1	A puppy died after being left tied up inside a minivan.
4/28/2025	Niceville , Florida	2	Two dogs died after being locked in a hot car.
4/20/2025	Cary, North Carolina	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car parked outside a motel.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2025:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued	Notes
7/7/2025	Bend, Oregon	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car while her owner was in a library.
7/7/2025	Waterloo, Ontario, Canada		The Waterloo Regional Police Service reported receiving five reports of companion animals left in hot cars over the weekend.
7/7/2025	Boise, Idaho	1	The Idaho Humane Society rescued a dog from a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
6/29/2025	Santa Nella, California	106	One hundred and six cats were rescued from a U-Haul van in a parking lot where they had no food or water. Twenty-eight other cats were found dead.
6/28/2025	Sevierville, Tennessee	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
6/27/2025	Dedham, Massachusetts	2	Dedham Animal Control reported two incidents of dogs being left in hot cars. One dog was locked in a vehicle while the owner was at a doctor’s appointment, and the other was locked in a vehicle while the owner was working out at a gym.
6/23/2025	Noblesville, Indiana	2	Two dogs were rescued from two different hot cars in the same parking lot.
6/23/2025	Fort Dodge, Iowa	10	Animal Control reported rescuing at least 10 dogs from hot cars recently.
6/22/2025	Lincoln, Nebraska	4	Police rescued four dogs from a hot car in a parking lot.
6/20/2025	Midland, Texas	3	Three emaciated dogs were rescued from a hot car outside a home.
6/12/2025	Dedham, Massachusetts	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car while his/her owner was shopping.
6/7/2025	Cornelius, North Carolina	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car in a parking lot.
6/7/2025	Forsyth County, North Carolina	1	Three dogs were left in a hot vehicle overnight. Two of them died, and one survived.
6/5/2025	Dedham, Massachusetts	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car.
5/31/2025	Walton County, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog that had been left in a hot car by the owner, who was at the beach.
5/26/2025	Defiance, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a car by a woman who was found dead the following day.
5/25/2025	Mount Wilson, California	1	A dog was rescued after overheating on a hiking trail.
5/17/2025	Brownsville, Texas	2	Two puppies showing signs of heat exhaustion were rescued after being left in a hot car.
5/16/2025	Palmyra, Pennsylvania	2	Two dogs were rescued after being left inside a hot car for over 13 hours.
5/16/2025	Oakland, California	1	A dog was rescued after being found overheated and lying in the roadway. She was later taken to a nearby animal shelter, where she was treated for severe heat exhaustion.
5/5/2025	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada		Police were called after a dog was found tethered to a car in direct sunlight in a parking lot. The owners arrived a few minutes later and were fined.
5/2/2025	Englewood, Florida		Bystanders tried to give water to a dog locked inside a hot car, but the owner saw them and assaulted one of them.
4/24/2025	Victoria, British Columbia, Canada	1	Police were called after two dogs were seen locked inside a hot car. Before the police could take action, the owner showed up at the scene.
4/20/2025	Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car by police and a park ranger.
4/7/2025	Frisco, Colorado	1	Animal control officers rescued a dog from a hot car in a ski resort parking lot.
4/6/2025	St. Johns, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a Home Depot parking lot.
3/17/2025	Lake Worth Beach, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car while the dog’s owner was in a pub.
3/1/2025	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	11	Eleven dogs were rescued from a hot car after spending nearly eight hours inside with the windows up and no access to food or water.
2/4/2025	Ormond Beach, Florida	17	Seventeen dogs were rescued after being found in cages inside a hot trailer without food or water. Ten of these dogs were puppies who had to have their chests rubbed to be revived, according to the police.

No animal should endure a heat-related death. It’s inexcusable.

URGENT: Dogs trapped inside hot cars can DIE 🚫☀️🚙🐕If you spot a dog who needs help, here's what you can do: http://peta.vg/28na
Posted by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) on Thursday, June 7, 2018

As guardians, we must take these vital steps in order to protect our beloved family members:

1. Keep dogs and cats indoors.

Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their footpads and cool themselves by panting, which makes it extra hard for them to beat the heat. Being left outside in hot weather can cause heat stress, injury, or death.

2. Never leave your dog—or any other animal—in a hot car.

It’s like being baked alive. Heatstroke can happen in just minutes, even with the car’s windows partially rolled down. And opening a window slightly won’t help—parking in the shade or leaving water in the vehicle won’t prevent your dog from overheating, either.

3. If you see a dog in a hot car …

… call 911 immediately. While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, write down the car’s make, model, and license plate number, or take a picture of the vehicle and go to the nearest building to find a manager and ask that the owner of the car be paged. If authorities are unresponsive or too slow to respond and the animal’s life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness who will back up your assessment before carefully removing the animal from the car and carrying him or her into the shade. PETA offers an emergency window-breaking hammer for help with intervening in these life-or-death situations. Don’t leave until the authorities arrive on the scene and you know that the dog is safe. Learn more about what to do if you see a dog in a hot car.

4. Recognize the symptoms of heatstroke, and take action if you see them.

Heatstroke is a potentially fatal emergency. Symptoms include restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite or coordination. If a dog is exhibiting these signs, attempt to lower the body temperature by providing the animal with water and applying a cold towel to the head and chest. If someone is with you, one of you should take these steps in the car as the other drives the dog to a veterinarian.

5. Be mindful when walking a dog in hot weather.

On a hot day, the pavement on sidewalks can reach temperatures between 130 and 180 degrees, which is hot enough to hurt your dog’s feet and even seriously burn them. Here are some helpful tips when walking your companion in the heat:

Always test the pavement with the palm of your hand before setting out—if it feels hot, it’s too hot for Spot.
Walk early in the morning or late in the evening, when it’s cooler.
Choose shady routes.
Carry water, and take frequent breaks.
Never make dogs wear muzzles or halters that restrict their breathing.
Opt for a lightweight fabric collar or a nifty Swamp Cooler vest.
Walk—don’t run. Dogs will run to the point of collapse just to please you. At that point, it may be too late to save them.

Together, we can help drastically reduce the number of dogs and other animal companions who die in hot weather and even eliminate these tragedies altogether. Animals are counting on us—as their guardians and as good Samaritans—to keep them safe. We mustn’t let them down.

Take Action Now

The Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats (HOT CARS) Act of 2017 aims to minimize the number of children and animals who die in hot cars every year by requiring that automakers equip all vehicles with technology that alerts drivers when a passenger remains in the backseat after the engine has been turned off. Sadly, since the bill was introduced, more deaths have occurred—and there will certainly be more in the months ahead. But we can prevent tragedies like these. Click below to help:

Tell Lawmakers to Take Action for Kids and Animals Left in Hot Cars

Make sure that all your friends and family know the potentially lifesaving hot weather tips above.

Watch this video, listen to this radio clip, and check out this ad to learn more about the reasons why you should never leave a dog in a hot car.